Item - 2026.PB46.9

The Toronto Preservation Board recommends that:

1. City Council approve the alterations to the heritage property at 8 Robert Street, in accordance with Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, substantially in accordance with plans and drawings dated April 7, 2026, prepared by Yimby Studio and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), prepared by GBCA, dated May 29, 2026, on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, subject to the following:

a. the Owner shall:

1. provide a detailed Conservation Plan, prepared by a qualified heritage consultant, that is consistent with the conservation strategy set out in the Heritage Impact Assessment for 8 Robert Street prepared by GBCA, dated May 29, 2026, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

2. provide a detailed Landscape Plan for the property at 8 Robert Street, satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such a Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

3. provide an Interpretation Plan for the property at 8 Robert Street, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

b. that prior to the issuance of any permit for all or any part of the property at 8 Robert Street, including a heritage permit or a building permit, but excluding permits for repairs and maintenance and usual of minor works for the property as are acceptable to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, the owner shall:

1. provide building permit drawings, including notes and specifications for the conservation and protective measures keyed to the approved Conservation Plan required in Recommendation 1.a.1 above. including a description of materials and finishes, to be prepared by the project architect and a qualified heritage consultant to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

2. provide a Letter of Credit, including provision for upwards indexing, in a form and amount and from a bank satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning to secure all work included in the approved Conservation Plan and Interpretation Plan; and

c. that prior to the release of the Letter of Credit required in Recommendation 1.b.2. above, the owner shall:

1. provide a letter of substantial completion prepared and signed by a qualified heritage consultant confirming that the required conservation work and the required interpretive work has been completed in accordance with the Conservation Plan and Interpretation Plan and that an appropriate standard of conservation has been maintained, all to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

Anne Fisher, Program Manager, Heritage Preservation Services, Urban Design, City Planning gave a presentation on 8 Robert Street- Alterations to a Designated Property under Part V, Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act- Approval.

This report recommends that City Council approve alterations to the heritage property at 8 Robert Street under Part V, Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act in connection with the construction of a two-storey roof addition (with mechanical penthouse) to allow the conversion of this former chapel building into a four-unit residential building. The alterations include removal of most of the roof, conservation of all four elevations and the solid wood entrance door at the front, restoration of the six original stained-glass windows, and exterior paint removal.

The subject property is located on the west side of Robert Street, north of College Street, and at the southern edge of the Harbord Village Phase II Heritage Conservation District (HVPIIHCD). It contains the one-storey former Christian Workers' Church which was constructed in 1915 and is currently vacant. 8 Robert Street is one of only two contributing non-residential properties in the HVPIIHCD.

The HVPIIHCD Plan notes that the value of this HCD "lies in the large number of original Victorian buildings with the majority of their heritage attributes present or capable of being restored" and it is the "consistency" in the character of the houses that make the area unique. The proposed two-storey roof addition does not to conform with the guidelines in the HVPIIHCD Plan which states that additions should be located at the rear of properties and should be lower than the ridge of the existing roof. Staff are however supportive of the proposed addition which is set back 0.6-1.2 metres behind the front gable to give visual prominence of the front gable from the public realm. The subject property is a non-residential, one-storey church-form building at the southern edge of the HCD and the proposed roof addition would not disrupt the consistent 2.5-3-storey character of the houses that characterise the district. It also meets the general intent of the HVPIIHCD Plan to conserve the heritage fabric of the area.